Ex-South teacher still eligible to teach

By Gayle perez
The Pueblo Chieftain

Published: November 19, 2013;Last modified: November 19, 2013 05:00AM

A former South High School teacher who resigned earlier this month after allegations surfaced that she had sent explicit text messages to a student and kissed him still is eligible to teach in Colorado.

Larisa Oringdulph maintains a valid educator credential, an official with the Colorado Department of Education confirmed Monday.

Oringdulph resigned her teaching position on Nov. 7, according to Pueblo City Schools (D60) spokesman Scott Jones.

Eric Yoder of CDE’s licensing department said Oringdulph has a teaching credential endorsed in language arts that is valid through March 2017.

Yoder said with a valid teacher license, Oringdulph is eligible to teach in a Colorado public school.

A police investigation revealed that Oringdulph, 31, admitted to kissing a 17-year-old student and sending text messages that were sexual in nature.

Police also discovered semi-nude photos of Oringdulph on at least two students’ cellphones after a parent of one of the students contacted police about concerns of an inappropriate relationship between her son and Oringdulph.

Police concluded there was no crime committed by Oringdulph. The case was closed in late October.

The Pueblo Chieftain has been trying to find out if Oringdulph was placed on any type of leave prior to her resignation, and whether taxpayers funded her position during such a leave.

D60 officials have refused to answer questions about Oringdulph, including whether the district had investigated her actions after parents complained earlier this year to South administrators about her alleged behavior toward male students.

District officials also refuse to comment on whether Oringdulph received any disciplinary action following those initial complaints.

Oringdulph told police she had gotten “in trouble” in September by a vice principal after a student’s parent found text messages from the teacher to the parent’s son.

D60 policy regarding staff use of social media states that “staff may not communicate with students through personal social media platforms or by texting without prior authorization from an appropriate administrator.”

The policy also states staff “shall not engage in conduct that adversely affects their capacity to serve as a role model for students.”

A separate district policy requires the superintendent to notify CDE if “an employee resigns as a result of an allegation of unlawful behavior involving a child, including unlawful sexual behavior which is supported by a preponderance of evidence.”

That same policy requires the superintendent to notify CDE if the board believes an employee is guilty of unethical behavior.

Yoder said as of Monday, CDE had not received any reports from D60.

Yoder said there is a process CDE follows to determine whether a teacher’s license should be denied, suspended or revoked. The process requires a review by the licensing unit, then the commissioner of education and finally the state board of education.